When is the kingdom of God coming? What is the sign that we need to be looking for? How will the kingdom of God be revealed?
Luke 19:11… While they were listening to these things he spoke in addition an illustration, because he was near Jerusalem, and they were imagining that the kingdom of God was going to display (G398) itself instantly.
Where did the disciples of Jesus get such an idea or thought that the kingdom of God would instantly display itself?
Luke 21:7…Then they questioned him, saying: “Teacher, when will these things actually be, and what will be the sign when these things are destined to occur (G1096)?
The Greek word rendered according to Strong’s Concordance #G1096 ginomai, and it means to emerge like transitioning from one point (realm, condition) to another, a change of state or condition, a becoming manifested.
The disciples of Christ Jesus just asked a good question. They believed that they were going to Jerusalem so that the Messiah would be revealed, and that the kingdom of God would take charge; However, the Lord Jesus just revealed that Jerusalem would be destroyed.
So, they asked Jesus how or what and when this would happen. They needed some clarification. They needed a timeline for this to become a reality! Remember this all started back at the question that the Pharisees asked.
So, starting at Luke 17:20-30 the Pharisees asked Jesus when is the kingdom coming? Jesus answer them not with when but how it was coming.
Luke 17:20-30… But on being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was coming, he answered them and said: “The kingdom of God is not coming with striking observableness, 21 neither will people be saying, ‘See here!’ or, ‘There!’ For, look! the kingdom of God is in YOUR midst.” 22 Then he said to the disciples: “Days will come when YOU will desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, but YOU will not see [it]. 23 And people will say to YOU, ‘See there!’ or, ‘See here!’ Do not go out or chase after [them]. 24 For even as the lightning, by its flashing, shines from one part under heaven to another part under heaven, so the Son of man will be. 25 First, however, he must undergo many sufferings and be rejected by this generation. 26 Moreover, just as it occurred in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of man: 27 they were eating, they were drinking, men were marrying, women were being given in marriage, until that day when Noah entered into the ark, and the flood arrived and destroyed them all. 28 Likewise, just as it occurred in the days of Lot: they were eating, they were drinking, they were buying, they were selling, they were planting, they were building. 29 But on the day that Lot came out of Sodom it rained fire and Sulphur from heaven and destroyed them all. The same way it will be on that day when the Son of man is to be revealed (G601).
Jesus said the Son of Man would illuminate like lightning on that day he becomes manifested.
Jesus also gave a comparison to his disciples. In the same way as Noah going into the ark, and in the same way that Lot left Sodom. So, it will be at the revealing of the Son of Man.
The Greek word rendered according to Strong’s Concordance #G601 apokalypto, and it means to uncover, revealing what is hidden, manifest to make visible.
How will the kingdom of God become manifested?
It is just as Jesus indicated. It would display itself instantaneously. He gave us instructions also on what we should do when we see this happen. Which we will discuss this thought later on in the subheading “In the twinkling of an eye”.
What sign will there be shown before the kingdom is revealed?
What is the Sign?
Matthew 24:3…While he was sitting upon the Mount of Olives, the disciples approached him privately, saying: “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your presence and of the conclusion (G4930) of the system of things?”
The disciples of Jesus Christ were very interested in what he just said as regards to Jerusalem being destroyed. They were also equally interested in when he would take on his royal kingship role. They also knew that the conclusion of the system of things was coming, and this was a teaching from a long time ago and as of yet, Jesus had not spoken of it in any of his teachings.
The Greek word rendered according to Strong’s Concordance #G4930 sunteleia and it means consummation that ushers in the end of the age. It is an intended climax of a payment for public service.
This teaching stems from what was prophesied by Enoch. Also remember the conversation that Martha had with Jesus about the resurrection of the dead. She believed in the resurrection of the last day. John 11:24
What happens in the last day? The account of Matthew is very clear about what happens next.
Matthew 24:29-31… Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 And then the sign of the Son of man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will beat themselves in lamentation, and they will see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And he will send forth his angels with a great trumpet sound, and they will gather his chosen ones together from the four winds, from one extremity of the heavens to their other extremity.
The sun becomes darkened, the moon reflects no light, and the stars fall from the heaven as the powers of the heavens are shaken.
There will appear the Son of Man coming on the clouds with his angels as he sounds forth the great trumpet. Then there will be the gathering the chosen ones from the extremities of the earth. What happens next at the gathering of the chosen ones?
2 Thessalonians 1:6-10… This takes into account that it is righteous on God’s part to repay tribulation to those who make tribulation for YOU, 7 but, to YOU who suffer tribulation, relief along with us at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with his powerful angels 8 in a flaming fire, as he brings vengeance upon those who do not know God and those who do not obey the good news about our Lord Jesus. 9 These very ones will undergo the judicial punishment of everlasting destruction from before the Lord and from the glory of his strength,10 at the time he comes to be glorified in connection with his holy ones and to be regarded in that day with wonder in connection with all those who exercised faith, because the witness we gave met with faith among YOU.
There will be a destruction of all those who do not accept our Lord and Christ, as they undergo the judicial punishment. For those who hope in Christ it will become a time of glorification.
Colossians 3:4… When the Christ, our life, is made manifest, then YOU also will be made manifest with him in glory.
1 Corinthians 1:7… so that YOU do not fall short in any gift at all, while YOU are eagerly waiting for the revelation (G602 unveiling) of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Timothy 6:14-16… I give you orders 14 that you observe the commandment in a spotless and irreprehensible way until the manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 This [manifestation] the happy and only Potentate will show in its own appointed times, [he] the King of those who rule as kings and Lord of those who rule as lords, 16 the one alone having immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom not one of men has seen or can see. To him be honor and might everlasting. Amen
2 Timothy 4:1… I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is destined to judge the living and the dead, and by his manifestation (G2015 glorious display) and his kingdom.
So, we see there’s going to be a judgment of the living and of the dead. Paul writes that there was a crown of righteousness for those who come off victorious.
2 Timothy 4:8… From this time on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me as a reward in that day, yet not only to me, but also to all those who have loved his manifestation.
1 Peter 5:4… And when the chief shepherd has been made manifest, YOU will receive the unfadable crown of glory.
In The Twinkling Of An Eye.
1 Corinthians 15:50-53… However, this I say, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit God’s kingdom, neither does corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Look! I tell YOU a sacred secret: We shall not all fall asleep [in death], but we shall all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, during the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised up incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this which is corruptible must put on incorruption, and this which is mortal must put on immortality.
What are the instructions that we are given and what should we do? The apostle Paul indicates in his writings that we should keep ourselves clean, we need to shed the desires of this world as we shall inherit incorruption and immortality, we shall be set free.
The kingdom of God is like an egg that a bird laid. After the time of incubation. A fledgling is hatched. It had to fight its way out of its shell. That fledgling is then cared for until it is ready for its flight. On the day when it takes to the air it becomes a bird of prey. And as it steadies itself with the wind under his wings it soars to new heights in a majestic flight with a view of oversight upon the land. And so, it will be for the sons of the kingdom of God.
“I am not a God who can tell lies, you will be with me in my kingdom”.
Writingwithlogos.com – Last Updated 11/29/22